Means for balancing window sashes



Dec. 31,- 1940. Q 1 HUFF Mms FOR BALANCING WINDOW s AsHEs .3sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March so,l 1938 Dei, 1940. @.LHUFF 2,226,721

MEANS FOR BALNCING WINDOW SASHES ,A Filed March 50 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2)s .50

Dec. 3l, 1940. G, HUFF 2,226,721

MEANS FOR BALANCING WINDOW SASHES Filed Marfoh- 30, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet5 Ire/Pfaff @oz/Idee( lo; y .fifa/Zay Patented Dec'.*3l, 1940 PATETOFFICE' MEANS 'FOR BALANCNG WINDOW SASHES Gilbert L. Huil', Chicago,Ill., assignor to Rock Island Sash and Door Works, Rock Island, lll.,

a corporation of I llinoi Application March so, 193s, serial No. 198,947

Claims.

The present invention relates to window balances of the spring-actuatedtype.

'I'he advent lof thin walls in modern houses makes necessary the use ofthin windows, and it 5 is diicult to provide therein the usual sashWeights. 'I'he present invention provides an improved sash` balance foruse in thin windows.

'I'he object of the invention is to provide a balance suitable for thinwindow-frames, which is easily inserted in the head of the frame, whichdoes not greatly weaken the head of the frame; which may be oi thecenter line of the sash; which serves both cords of a sash; which isselfadjusting in installing to equalize tension; which is easily put andheld in tension; which is protected from damage by settling of dust andthe like thereon after installation; and which is simple in constructionand relatively inexpensive.

Various other and ancillary objects and advantages of the invention willbe apparentV from the following description and explanation of thedevice and installation thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a window equipped with a balance for each sash thereof.

' Fig. 2 is a plan view of the window of Fig. 1 on line 2-2 thereof,showing the location of the balances offcenter from the sashes, in thewindow-frame head.

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are various devices used for attaching wire cord orcable to the sash.

Fig. 7 is a face view of a balance looking at it, as it appears inlooking at Fig. 1, on line 'I-l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 -is an enlarged cross-'section of the window of Figs. 1 and 2showing two balances with detail, the view being taken on line 8-f8 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of axial parts to be assembled vinproducing the balance.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of a pulley xture shown generally at theright in Fig. 1 which goes with each balance, when used for both cordsof a sash.

4 Fig. 11 is a cross-section of the pulley fixture of Fig. 10 taken online II-II of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 shows in perspective the casing parts of the pulley fixture.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the exactforms and combinations disclosed in the drawings, and that the inventionis subject to numerous modications and changes within the scope of theappended claims.

In' Fig. 1 there is shown a window having interior ytrim IIJ, concealingthe window frame having sides II and I2, terminating in horns I3 and I4,and head member I5 set into a receiving groove in each side member IIand I2. Lower and upper sash I6 and Il are shown, each operated by itsrespective balance I8 and I9 (Fig. 2). F At the head on the underside isa parting stop 2li (Fig. 8), set into a groove 2| therefor in the head,and the parting stops 22. set in the frame sides I I and I2.

Referring to Fig. 2 and Fig. 8, it willbe seen m that the twc balancesI8 and I9 are respectively further inw. rd and outward from the centerlines of the s ishes giving a wider space between them in the head I5 inthe vicinity where it is` weakened by groove 2I. Becauseeach balance isl5 set into a recess cut into the head, the width of this space isimportant in preserving strength in the head, and the thinner thebalance is, the greater is thisadvantage. The construction of the`balance permitting this off-center location is 20 therefore an importantfeature.

The balance itself is completely housed on the upper side so that dust,dirt and plaster cannot collect on it to damage it. On the down-side,where it is flush with the inside surface of head 25 I5, it is open. Theopen character permits aflixing the cords, tensioning the spring, andfree play for the cords.

The casing is best shown in Fig. 9 as having an arch plate 25 providinga mounting end 26 flush 30 with the frame side' II, and a right-angularmounting end 21 flush with the underside of the head I 5, with an upsetbrace portion 28.

The arch plate 25 is held between two face plates or caps 29 and 30,each having flanged 35 edges 3| and 32 to receive the edges of the archplate 25. Tongues 33 on the arch plate t slots 34 in the caps, and arebent over to assemble the parts permanently. A fixed hollow split post35 extends from face 29 to 30, to each of which 40 y it is. securedsimilarly by tongues 36 and slots 3l.

Thus the post holds the central parts of the caps in a fixed position.The slot in the post is designated 38.

Post 35 acts both as an axle for drum 40 and 45 as a fixture for one endof a spiral spring 4I inside the drum. The drum 40 is formed by anannular member formed integrally with a larger toothed disk 42, and may-be made asa die-casting with appropriate detailed structures. The 50periphery of drum 40 is of less diameter than the toothed disk, so thatthe latter provides a iange for one end of the drum, to guide the cableand to keep it on the drum in winding. The open faceof the said castinghas cover 43 providing a 55 flange on the other end of the drum. It issecured tothe drum by inserting the die-cast pins 44 of the drum intoregistering holes 45 in the cover, and upsetting or spreading them asrivets. Thus the drum is well sealed. Cover 43 has an inclined lip 41(Fig. 8) providing a bevelled flange for the drum, and an upset ordished part 48 surrounding hole 46, which hole bears on post 35. Thedished portion extends toward the cap on casing face 30, and between thetwo a fiber friction disk 49 is placed.

The drum (Fig. '1) has two inner projecting parts 50 (of which only oneis used at a time) adapted to engage the hooked end 5| of spring 4|, theother end of which has a rounded loop or eye 52 tting inside the hollowpost 35, thus securing it to the axle or post. Thus by simply turningthe drum counter-clockwise in Fig. 1, the spring is placed undertension. A gravity operated detent 53 hasa slot 54 through which passesa headed rivet 55 to secure it`loosely for motion' onto rear plate orcap 29. The detent has teeth '56 to mesh with toothed disk 42. Thelatter is toothed over its entire periphery as a gear so that it may bearrested at any position by moving detent 53. into engaging position.Force of the spring to turn the drum 40 clockwise in Fig. 7 holds thedetent in engaging position, but any movement counter-clockwise of thedrum will easily let the detent fall automatically by gravity into itsnorma-l or non-holding position. This facili-tetes resetting the devicein tension, and using the balance, even when it is installed. The detentalso serves as a guide to keep cable from running onto the tops of theflange teeth. An important feature of the detent is its ability to holdthe drum in factory-wound tension of'a predetermined degree. The detentneed not be released from the pre-wound drum until the device isinstalled and the weight of the window Aexerted on the drum. The balancemay thus be prewound for given weights of window, and so marked, toassure perfect operation. Anyone may install the device with ordinarytools and without exercise of judgment on tension.

On the outside of the drum certain peripheral portions are removed toleave projecting parts 51, one of which need not be used. Two parallelholes 58 (Figs. 7, 8 and 9) are formed throughthe projecting part,generally parallel with a tangent line to the drum surface, but inwardlyof it, for the receipt of cable wire 59. Preferably one cable length 59is used for one sash, an intermediate portion being looped at 60 afterpassing through holes 58, providing the two lengths of cord for eachsash. The position of the loop is easily shifted in installing it andmay be automatically located by tensioning the cords after the ends arefastened to the sash. It is also to be understood that each of thecord-blocks 51 may be used where it is desired to have two separatelengths of cord. It is also worthy of mention that the drum 40 may bemoved to bring to the open face of the casing, either cord-block 51where it is readily accessible to attach or loop a cord, even when thebalance is already installed. As shown in Fig. '1, the single cable,looped at 60 has one length 59 delivered from the drum sufciently closeto the frame side I I to run directly to the lower sash I6 forattachment at 6|. 'I'he other length provides cable 62 for the otherside of the sash, and to keep it alined just below the inside of headI5, a wooden pulley or cylinder 63 is located in the balance on axle pin64 between the facial caps 29 and 30. Cable 62 is shown attached toilower sash I6 at 65 after passage through pulley fixture 66. It isparticularly to be observed that the drum as mounted in the casing, isfully above the underside of the head I5. Thus it is free from beingstruck by a sash. Although the idler is slightly below the casing cap 29(see Fig. 7) to deliver cable 62 free from rubbing, the cable itselfreally takes the force if the top of a sash is raised to the head. Forthe upper sash balanced by such a device, the top sash member may beslightly 'recessed to receive 'any projecti.1g parts of the devicesherein described.

In order to keep the head space clear for raising the lower sash to thetop, and for accommodating the closed upper sash, the pulley flxture 66is provided to carry cords 62 up into the head to come down alongsidethe frame side I2, like the cords 59. A suitable fixture is shown inFigs. 10, l1 and 12.

Because the preferred cable is. a bronze or stainless steel single ormultiple strand cable of numerous ne sizes of wire, the same is subjectto acquiring a permanent curl if a small size of pulley is employed fora substantial turn.

In the pulley fixture 66 a suiciently large diameter of pulley isemployed to assure no permanent set in the cable. Two slightly groovedpulleys 10 and 1| of hard wood are preferred, and are located to centerthe cable with the sash. Being thinner than the companion balance, it ispreferably centered with the sash, where the balance is not, and thesame order of spacing exists at the paired pulley fixtures as at thepaired balances to keep the strength of the head I5, near the groove 2|therein.

The xture is designed for self-threading of the cable into and out ofthe fixture by merely pushing it along. Two face plates 12 and 13 haveanges 14 and 15 which engage over the doublearched plate 1B. Archedplate 16 has tongues 11 which t into gaps 18 in the flanges 14 and 15,some or all of the tongues being bent over the plates 12 and 13 to clampthem together. Pulleys 10 and 1| are mounted on pins 19 set in the faceplates. Between the pulleys, the face plates 12 and 13 are upset towardseach other to provide a narrow space between upset faces to guide cable62 to the center of the fixture in line with the grooves of the pulleys.Plates 12 and 13 at the open face of the assembled casing have abuttingspacing lugs 8| and 82. Arched plate 16 has attaching ends much likethebalance, for example, the angular part 83 for the underside of the framehead I5, and extension end 84 for the frame side I2.

In Fig. 4 a cord fastener is shown which may be used on new window sash(Fig. 3) equipped with wire cable 9|. This is a simple plate 92 withinverted key-hole slot 93 and a screw hole 94 for screw 95. y A knot 96in the cable is sulficient to secure the cable. Where sash is alreadygrooved for window rope, such as used for sash weights, the specialtting of Fig. 5 may be used. This has a curved body 91 to flt the groovein the sash; a sort of key-hole slot 98, a cover lug 99 for the top ofthe groove, with a hole |00 therein for the cable |0I. A screw hole |02is formed in the body of the fixture. Hole |00 is large enough toreceive the knotted end of the cable |0I, and the bayonet slot 98 isopen in the area of the curved body to receive the knot while the sashequipped with this fastener is already in mounted position in the frame.

Where the loop 30 is used in the preferred manner for attaching a singlecable to the drum to provide equally tensioned lengths of cable, deviceslike, those of Figs. 4 and 5 are suitable for both sides of the sash.The ends are affixed to the sash, the slack taken up from the points ofattachment, through the pulley fixture, up to the cord-block on thedrum. All the slack is pushed through holes 58 in the cord block' toproduce even tension, and then the Wound drum'is permitted to unwinduntil it takes lup all the slack on the loop side of the cord block.This produces quick and permanent adjustment to equalize the tension.

However, where it may be desirable for any reason to run two cords, eachfastened to the drumv40 independently, there should be some meansreadily to equalize the tension. This may be provided by a device at thesash like that in Fig. 6. The sash |03 is grooved at |04 to receive thedevice which comprises a screw or stud |05 carried by the sash overwhich the end of the cord |06 is looped. A plate |01 at the top of thesash is secured thereto by screw |08, and has a hole |09 through whichthe cord |06 passes. The plate also carries a screw-headed shaft freelyturnable in the plate, pointing toward stud and threaded at its lowerend, on which it bears a nut-device held from turning by the sides ofslot |04. The nut carries the end of cable |05. By turning thescrew-headed shaft, the nut can be raised to take up tension in thecord. This adjusting attachment lmay be used also where a looped cableis originally adjusted with equal tension, to take up or let out cordwhere the cord may have stretched in the unequal lengths.

The balanceA device is an assembly calculated to be permanent, and soconstructed. It is therefore of importance that the spring 4| be of highquality, protected from exposure to corrosion, and of structure limitinga tendency to break. Spring steel, when sharply bent, or when drilledwith holes for securing it, is greatly weakened, and presents apotential danger spot. The structure of long or rounded curves toprovide the hook 5|, and the eye 52 is therefore of considerableimportance in connection with long life of the device.

Balances of such intended permanence heretofore have presented dicultyin improper reversal of drum, or back-running, when the spring is not intension. The slotted post 35 has been used heretofore, but with astructure in the spring to engage with it, such that the spring may slipout in back-running. By the large eye 52 the spring is non-insertableand non-removable through the slot, and must be secured in the postaxially through the end of it.

The spring 4| is merely exemplary of spring power means to actuate thecable drum 40. As a matter of economy and compactness, it is mountedinside the drum. It is therefore to be lunderstood that it may belocated elsewhere, for example outside the drum, the toothed wheel 42being a suitable gear for an operating connection. For heavy sash, wherethe lsize of the drum cannot house a sufficiently large drum, suchexternal power means may be applied by gearing to the drum, or in thesame way auxiliary power may be added to the spring inside the drum.

By turning Fig. 7 to its side, making member I3 a head and member l5 aframe side, it will be seen that the balance may be installed in theside as well as the head. Y Not only does the present invention concernthe structure of the balance, but it also involves the whole assembly offrame, sash, cable, balance,

and pulley fixture. The various features of the invention are of coursesubject to numerous modifications and changes, falling within the scopeof the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: 1-

1. A sash balance comprising in combination a housing adapted to bemounted in a window frame head by a side of the window frame, a fixedaxle in said housing, a hollow cable drum in said housing rotatable onsaid axle, and open only atk the drum, said spring acting through thedrum' to hold said detent in engagement with the drum, and said detentbeing automatically removed from its holding position upon reverserotation of the drum against the force of the spring, means on thesurface of the drum for holding cable for winding two lengths thereofvsimultaneously on the drum, the drum being located in the housing todeliver one length along the said window frame side, and an idler pulleyin the housing for guiding the other length under the frame head towardthe opposite frame side.

2. In a sash balance a fixed axle, a closed hollow cable drum rotatableon said axle and open to the interior only by the clearance at saidaxle,

a spiral spring inside the drum, one end of the.

spring being attached to the axle and the other end being attached totheA interior of the drum for winding and* operating the drum, said drumhaving a generally cylindricalcontour at the exterior as a windingsurface for cable and being recessed inwardly-from said contour, aprojecting part within the recess extending toward and not beyond saidcontour, said part being adapted to secure the looped end of a singlelooped cable to the drum at a level within said contour and in regionseparated from the hollow interior of the drum.

3. In a sash balance having a rotatable drum having a generallycylindrical surface for winding sash cable, a spring inside the drum foroperating the drum, an axle on which the drum turns and to which one endof the spring is attached, said drum being substantially sealed againstdirt and dust except for the clearance at said axle, and a projectingpart on the surface of the drum having two holes therethrough opening onone side to receive cable wrapped on the drum. whereby a cable lengthmay lpass into one hole and return through the other to secure the cableto thedrum, the surface of the drum being recessed to support saidprojecting part, and said projecting part lying within the contour ofthe generally cylindrical winding surface.

4. In a sash balance having a rotatable drum having a generallycylindrical surface for winding sash cable, a spring inside the drum foroperating the drum, an axle on which the drum turns and to which one endof the spring is attached, said drum being substantially sealed againstdirt and dust except for the clearance at said axle, and a projectingpart on the surface of the drum having a hole therethrough opening toreceive cable wrapped on the' drum whereby said hole, the surface of thedrum being recessed to support said projecting part, and said projectingpart lying within the contour of the generally cylindrical windingsurface.

5.' A sash balance comprising in combination a housing adapted to bemounted inl a window frame, a xed axle in said housing, a hollow cabledrum in said housing rotatable on said axle. a spiral spring in saiddrum connecting the axle and the drum, permitting rotation of the drumin a spring-winding direction'and in a. springunwinding direction,meansto attach cable to cable may be secured to the drum after entering bewound on said drum, circularly disposed teeth concentric with andturning with said drum, a detent for locking the drum with the springpartly wound, means for mounting the detent for manual movement inlocking engagement with the teeth oi' the drum, said spring actingthrough the drum to hold said detent in engagement with the drum, andsaid detent being automatically removed from its holding position uponreverse rotation of the drum against the force of 10 the spring.

l GILBERT L. HUFF.

